The internal governance tensions within Tata Trusts have escalated significantly, with veteran trustee Venu Srinivasan formally moving the Maharashtra Charity Commissioner for an immediate inquiry into the administration and functioning of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT).
Srinivasan—who serves as a trustee for both SDTT and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT), alongside being their joint nominee director on the Tata Sons board—has flagged severe governance irregularities. His petition highlights growing concerns over the trusts’ direct interference in Tata Sons’ commercial and strategic affairs, warning that such moves could jeopardize the primary charitable objectives, tax-exempt status, and corpus of the institutions.
Furthermore, the submission questions the basis of Noel Tata’s position as a perpetual trustee and his appointment as the chairman of Tata Trusts, while also flagging the induction of Neville Tata and alleging Srinivasan’s own exclusion from key decision-making processes. This development highlights deepening fault lines at the highest levels of the Tata Group regarding control, power distribution, and the future strategic trajectory of the group’s holding company.
